Enameled door structure



Auna, 1941. J. H. REIFENBERG ,2,253,398

f I I ENAMELEUDOOR STRUCTURE Filed July l5, 1939 A I5 Sheets-Shee. 2

f e I' l I I II I I I a I I l I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I l I I I I I I.

AU8- 19, 1941- J. H. RElFENBr-:RG

ENAMELED DOOR STRUCTURE Filed July 13, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 i L PATE-'NT OFFICE y "'tionf'm In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2U

Paiements-19;1941

ganan-nnen' noonfsratro'runa oseph-H Reifenberg, f liiansilelcl,` hio ,'a ssigi1or Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing f CompanygEastPittsburgh, Pa., a corporation Application July 13,1939, serial n. 234,150

" xfemmina(erhmmm)` lilly-invention" relatesto-'an enai'neled fabricated `door structure:having-azzremovablepanel and,` more `particu]arly;fiofthe'jrriethod of manufacture andassembly ofisuch'structure.

Ari;v object of m'ylinvent'ion is to i provide method oi!I economically making a lrigid, I fabrijcatedv door` -structurewhich permits the' use of enameled panels.

' .Afurther` object" of` my invention. *is toprovide- Y a yfabricated door structure lwhich has a remov- `able iront.` panel .functionallyl integral therewith. t Another"objectoi niy invention 1 is fto provide a functionally -integrai,1` rigid, inexpensive" door structure in which theLhinge-Apinslthereofre.

movably retain vthefront panel I functionallyv inviews oflthe completed l"door structure embodying my invention.

. f lteierrlng to theaccompanying.drawings,` in

rsun a rurtnerfobject of my mvennonfistq `provide a fabricated ydoorstructure having spring biased hinge pins Iwhich lockfthe fabricated ldoor structure into .fa 'functionally integral :unit-f and whichafi'ordsmeansfor rotatably mounting the 1 unitary doortstructure; I a Other objectspif myinvention' will either be* 'pointed out speciilcallyiimthecourse of Vthefol-A lowing. description ofV a device embodying 'l my invention, orf will beapparent from 'such descripand 31` areelevational, top and side views, respectively, of a* portion of'` a door' structure l embodying myinvention;v I Y I Figs. 41 and 5a`re elevational-and vside vieware-` spectively,` of I a second portionof a structure em-v bodying my'finvention;v I A Figs. 6 vand Tarefelevational and side views my invention:

Figs. 8 `and 9are elevational and side views,

respectively, `of apartially assembled door struc-V ture;

Fig. 10" is an Figs, 11,12 ,and `1a are elevanqnsrt@ and bottom views, respectively,` of the front panel for such door structure;

,j Fig. .14l is a fragmentary sectional view taken ion the linel of Fig. `12 ;1'

Fig. 15` isla perspective view enlarged viewfof the hinge pin` -used in thedoor structure; f

illustrating the `of ahinge blade used in'-a"st`ructure `embodied in' I:

` ever, the bottom ledge 3| does have upturned which like reference characters indicate like parts in the several figures, I showa prefabricated-door structure II) including a rear panel I2, a reenforcing panel I4,-a plurality of hinge blades I6, a plurality vof `hinge pins I8 and a front" panel 2li.V The rear panel I2` (see Figs. 1, 2 and .3) is,

in-thisinstance, formed from a single metallic 'sheet and has depending side, top and bottom flanges 22, 22y and 22", respectively, located s'ubstantially at right 'anglesto the main portion of such panel. A"plura1ity of apertures 23 are located Within the top flange 22. to permit the cooperation of iront panel 20 therewith, as hereinafterdescribed. A plurality of embossed ribs may be formed within the rear panel I2 to give Vit.additional mechanical strength. Substantially rectangular shaped apertures 24 are located near the bottom corners of the rear panel '(see Fig. l). 't The apertures 24 are relatively narrow and elongated to permit the free passage'of the hinge blades I3, as hereinafter described. A substantially circular shaped aperture 26 is located within the si'deflanges `2 2'near the 'lower corners tl/er'eof (see Figy). These apertures 26 are adapted to receive the hinge pins AIBand 'to movably support such pins, as hereinafter described. I The Ireeniorcing panel I4 (see Figs. 4 and 5.) is also preferably formed from a single metallic sheet. The panel I4 includes a central portion 28 and outwardly and downwardly extending irregularly shaped supporting `side and top ledges III-.anda bottom ledgel 3|. The ledges 30 have along their 'outer edge an upturned' flange 32 which cooperates with the inner surface of the side flanges 22 of the rear panel I2 in a manner hereinafter,described.` The bottom ledge 3| is similar in shapeto the side ledges 30 except that it does not have lan upturned outer ange. Howend -portions 387 located at both ends thereof.

The reenforcing panel I4 having the outwardly displaced portions 30 and 3i functionally integral therewith, acts as the reenforcing member for the rearpanel I2 -andgives it the desired strength for`reenforcing the-door structure, as herein-4 after described. t I

` Elongated rectangular apertures 34 are located `within the displaced side portions 30 and are4 adapted to cooperate with the aperturesV 24 in al `manner hereinafter described. The upwardly turned end portions 38 `of the bottom ledge 3l have apertures 40 located substantially in the mid-points thereof. These apertures 48 are adapted to be positioned substantially in alignment with the apertures 26 of the rear panel I2 to cooperate therewith in supporting the hinge pins I8, as hereinafter described.

The hinge blades I6 are substantially fiat and are preferably punched from a metallic sheet in a somewhat irregular conguration having a .main substantially rectangular portion 42 and a `this instance, an elongated cylindrical pin having an annular notch 48 cut within one end thereof. The main diameters of the pins I8 are slightly less than the apertures 26, 4D and 48 to permit the free movement of pin I8 within such apertures, as hereinafter described. A helically wound resilient member or spring 50 is located about the pins I8. One end of the resilient member 50 is wound with a substantially smaller diameter than the main portion thereof, and is adapted to fit within the annular notch 48 in pins I8. Accordingly, it follows that with the end of the resilient member 50 firmly located within the annular notch of pin I8 that pin I8 may move with respect to the main portion of resilient member 50 without having any relative movement between the pin I8 and the reduced diameter end portion of such resilient member. A smooth or closely fitting washer 52 is located about the pin I8 to engage the free end of resilient member 50. The washer is loose enough to permit relative movement between the washer and pin I8. However, the washer 52 prevents the springIBII from wedging in the aperture 40, as hereinafter described. The front panel 20 is preferablylformed from a single metallic sheet and has formed integral therewith depending side and top flanges 54 and a bottom flange 56. The flanges 54 are formed substantially perpendicular .to the surface of the front panel 28 and are adapted to cooperate with and engage the outside of the side and top flanges 22 and 22', respectively, of the rear panel I2, las hereinafter described. However, the bottom flange 56 is adapted .to cooperate with and engage the inner surface of the bottom flange 22 of rear panel I2.` A plurality of inwardly extending studs 58 are rigidly attached to the top flange 54. The studs 58 comprise, in this instance, a hollow rivet 88 and a tubular bushing 82. in the upper flange 54, whereupon the tubular member 62 is positioned about the shank portion of the rivet 60, permitting the bottom portion of such rivet to be spun over tightly against the tubular member 62 so as to form a rigid stud 58 functionally integral with the top flange 54 of the front panel. The vstuds 58 are adapted to extend through apertures 23 in the top flange 22 of the rear panel I2, as hereinafter described.

When assembling the door structure embodying my invention with the various parts thereof formed as hereinabove described, the reenforclng panel I4 is first placed within the rear panel I2. The flange portions 32 of the reenforcing panel I4 The rivet is inserted through apertures 64 are then spot welded or rigidly attached to the inner surface of the sides 22 and top 22 of rear panel I2 while the main portion 88 of the bottom flange portion II of panel I4 is welded to the inner surface of the rear panel I2 (see Figs. 8 and 9). The rear panel I2 and reenforcing panel I4 thus are4 united to form a functionally integral partial structure. 'I'he apertures 24 and 84 of panels I2 and I4, respectively, will be located substantially in line with each other, permitting the hinge portion 44 of the hinge blade I6 to be passed therethrough. The hinge blades I6 may then be rigidly attached to the upturned flanges 32 of reenforcing panel I4, say by spot welding. However, it is obvious that the hinge blades may be attached to the panel structure either before or after the panels are attached together. The circular aperture 48 located within the free ends of the main portion of the hinge blades I6 isi located substantially coaxially with the circular apertures 26 and 48 located within the rear panel I2 and reenforcing panel I4, respectively. 'The hinge pins I8 are then positioned within the apertures 28, 48 and 46, one in each lower corner, with the washer 62 located against the upturned end portions 88 of the reenforcing member I4 (see` Figs. 8 and 16), and with the annularly notched end of the pins I8 extending outwardly from the lower portions of the sides of rear panel I2. The resilient member 50 is then adapted to bias they hinge pins I8 outwardly from the rear panel I2 while the hinge pins themselves are free to move within the apertures 48, 46 and 28, respectively.

The side and top flanges 54 of front an 20 outside the side and top flanges 22 alfid e212', rt spectively, of rear panel I2 while the bottom flange 56 of front panel 20 fits inside the bottom flange 22" of rear panel I2. However, the outwardvly @xtendlng hinge pins I8 engage the de pending Sides 54 of the front panel and prevent the front panel from making complete engagement with the rear panel Stlllliure- The hinge pins I8 are then biased inwardly by means of, say a screw-driver or the like (see Fig. 16), so as to permit the side flanges 84 of the front panel 20 to pass downwardly in front of the hinge pin I8. With the continued movement of the frontpanel 20 in such a manner, the pins I8 will be 'substanl tially .irl .line with the apertures 86 in the depending side .flang 54..- llh time the compressed resilient member 5I) will biaslsuch pin outwardly through the aperture 86, hi'nellin `I3 is thus movably supported or retained by the rear panel and is adapted to .engage the front panel through the acertar@ 5f to lock the tw'o r together into substantially a functional integral structure.

It is therefore, obvious that a str formed in accordance with my invention a fabricated door structure having a spring biased .hinge pin which locks the fabricated structure into a functionally integral aait permitting Such hinge pin to extend outwardly from the door structure to afford means for rotatably mounting gijon structure on any suitable supporting struc- The outwardly biased hinge pins I8 also provide an easy means of assembling the complete door with any suitable structure, such as a dishwasher, or the like. When assembling the door embodying my invention with such a structure the pins Il are biased inwardly, but not sufficient to disengage the two panels, and are lined up with suitable apertures in the' frame ofthe supporting structure then allowed to move outwardly into these apertures. The door is thus free to rotate about the hinle Dine in a well known Various other modifications may be made in the device embodying my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only auchI limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A rotatably mounted door structure including, in combination, a rear panel, a re-enforcing l panel positioned within and rigidly attached to the rear panel, a hinge pin, a resilient member cooperating with the re-enforcing panel and pin for biasing the pin outwardly from the rear panel, a front panel, and means comprising the biased hinge pin for restraining the front panel in cooperative engagement withlthe rear panel.

2. A door structure including, in combination, a rear panel, a front panel adapted to cooperate with such rear panel, means attached to the front panel and adapted to engage the rear panel for retaining the two panels in cooperative engagement, a pair of hinge pins extending outwardly from the respective sides of the rear panel and movably supported thereby, and a pair of resilient members cooperating with the respective pins and rear panel for biasing the pins outwardly therefrom, saidhinge pins adapted to engage the front panel to lock the two panels together.

3A rotatably mounted door structure including, in combination, a rear panel, a re-enforcing panel positioned Vwithin and rigidly attached to the rear panel, a hinge pin extending outwardly from each siderof the rear panel and movably adapted to engage the rear panel to retain these two panels in cooperative engagement. said hinge pins adapted to engage the iront panel to lock the iront and rear panels together.

4. A door structure comprising, in combination, a front panel and a rearpanel forming a substantially completely enclosed structure, a third panel enclosed within said front and rear panels and secured to one of them, said third panel having a projection disposed at an intermediate point thereof, and a hinge pin interconnecting said front and rear panels and said projection.

5. A door structure comprising, in combination, a front panel and a rear panel forming a substantially completely enclosed structure, a third panel enclosed within said front and rear `panels and secured to one of them, said third panel having a projection disposed at a point spaced from an edge of said third panel, a hinge pin mounted in said projection and also in said front and rear panels, a resilient member cooperating with said pin for biasing the pin outwardly of said panels, and means comprising said biased hinge pin for retaining the front and rear panels in cooperative engagement.

6. A door structure comprising, in combination, a `fronti panel and a rear panel forming a substantially completely enclosed structure, a third panel enclosed within said front and rear panels and secured to one of them, said third panel having a portion turned at substantially right angles to the body of said third panel, a hinge pin having one end mounted in said portion and the other in said front and rear panels, a resilient member cooperating ,with said pin for biasing the pin outwardly of said panels, and means comprising said biased hinge pin for re taining the front and rear panels in cooperative engagement.

JOSEPH H. REIF'ENBERG. 

